Tasavur Mushtaq
Srinagar
After missing a deadline of May 2016, Chenani-Nashri tunnel on Jammu-Srinagar highway would be thrown open for public today, finally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 9.28 Km tunnel amid tight security.
The tunnel which is built at a cost of Rs 3720 cr will become India’s longest tunnel. This will shorten the day long journey of Jammu-Srinagar by two hours and it will reduce the distance by around 30Kms. The tunnel delayed by year had cost escalation as Rs 1200 cr were incurred more than the initial estimated cost.
First of its kind with Transverse Ventilation System, it took Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) Ltd five and half years to complete this tunnel.
Comprising of two tubes, one of traffic and other for emergency, the tunnel provides alternate passage to people to bypass the avalanches and landslides prone stretches between Patnitop, Kud, and Batote towns.
This tunnel is a part of a project to connect the two major cities Srinagar and Jammu with a 286-km-long four-lane highway.
